Body supported sheet holding and writing board



Aug. 22, 19-61 D. REICHMUTH 2,996,830

BODY SUPPORTED SHEET HOLDING AND WRITING BOARD Filed Jan. 14, 1960 INVENTOR. Dominic Reichmurh Attorney 2,926,830 BODY SUPPORTED SHEET HOLDING AND WRITING BOARD Dominic Reichmuth, 696 Longwood Ave., Hayward, Calif. Filed Jan. =14, 1960, Ser. No. 2,419 1 Claim. (CI. 45-59) -The invention relates to portable trays formed for carrying about in a horizontal operalble position upon the body of the user. Y

An object of the present invention is to provide a body supported tray of the character described which is particularly designed for holding pads of sheets for convenient reference and writing upon by the user and which is light in weight, durable and completely portable and may be comfortably, most conveniently and firmly supported from the users shoulders leaving both of his hands and arms free for associated operations such as, for example, counting and arranging of stock and in which the foregoing usable position of the tray is maintained while the user is walking around, and in various required bending, stooping and sitting and squatting positions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character described which may be readily adjusted for either right hand or left hand writers; which is further readily adjustable to accept and to hold properly and display pads of various thicknesses; and in which the pages of the pad may be turned as in a book as they are filled out or otherwise referred to and are conveniently retained in their turned back position while reference is had to other sheets of the pad.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which of the foregoing will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specification. It is to be understood however, that variations in the show ing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing (one sheet):

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a body supported sheet holding and writing board constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown in operative position upon a user.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the device illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the device taken from a position suggested by the plane of line 33 of FIGURE 2.

The body supported sheet holding and writing board of the present invention consists briefly of a pair of fiat shoulder straps 6 and 7 each formed with an inverted fold 8 and 9 for fitting over the shoulders of the user, see FIGURE 1, with the free end portions 11 and 12 terminating at the upper back shoulder area and with the forward portions extending downwardly from the top of folds 8 and 9 and converging over the chest area of the wearer; a breast plate 14 secured to the lower ends 16 and 17 of the forward portions of the straps 6 and 7; a third flat strap 19 secured to and depending from breast plate 14, and having a generally right angularly related forwardly projecting arm 21; a fiat tray 22 mounted upon and being pivotally secured as by bolt 23 at a mid-point to the forward end 24 of the arm for rotation of the tray about a vertical axis so as to accommodate right and left hand writers as shown in full and dashed lines in FIGURE 3, and means 26 for securing the tray 22 in selected rotated position on the arm. Preferably in the interests of lightness in weight, dur- 2,996,830 Patented Aug. 22, 1961 ability and comfort to the user, straps 6 and 7 are formed of light weight resilient material such as aluminum which,

will readily generally conform to the shoulders and the body of the wearer and preferably the strap 19 and tray 22 are likewise formed of aluminum to retain lightness in weight consistent with strength and durability. The

means for securing the tray in its selected rotated positions here includes a plurality of arcuately set openings 28 in the tray 22 arranged concentrically to pivot pin 23,

and an opening in the arm at the same radius from pivot 23 so as to selectively register with one of the openings 28 as the tray is rotated on pivot 23. A fastener here in the j form of a bolt 31 and wing nut 32 is threaded through the registering openings and tightened for securing the tray against rotation when the tray has been swung upon arm 21 to a straight-ahead or canted position convenient to the user. another bolt and wing nut combination.

As above noted the device of the present invention has been particularly designed for holding pads of sheets such as printed inventory stock sheets conventionally used in the taking and ordering of inventory. These sheets may be printed up listing all of the items which may be in stock and are sometimes supplied in pad or book form. Some companies have the practice of using one of these pads monthly for the taking of inventory and stock ordering. The means for supporting such a pad on the tray of the present invention here consists of a bar 36, having a base sign 37 mounted upon the tray 22 along an edge portion 38 and having a length approximately equal to this edge portion for clamping a pad 39 of sheets therebetween; studs 41 and 42 connecting the bar and tray and adapted for threading through openings conventionally provided in the pad, and being threaded and fitted at their under sides with wing nuts 43 and 44 to accommodate pads of various thicknesses. As a feature of the present construction the bar 36 is formed with an end loop 46 superimposed in spaced relation over the base side 37 for holding against return, sheets 47, see FIGURE 1, which are folded back from the pad and under the end loop. If desired, a conventional style spring pressed clip 49, as used on clip boards, may be mounted at the normally upper end 51 of the tray to assist in holding in position the sheets of the pad as they are being referred to or written upon.

As will be understood, the portable body carried, pad holding, and writing board of the present invention, will have many uses such as writing orders while checking stock, taking physical inventory of merchandise or equipment, receiving incoming shipments, checking outgoing shipments, writing customer repair orders as in garages and the like, preparing time study analyses, recording athletic events, and by invalids in a seated position for reading or writing. It has primary utility in conveniently, firmly and comfortably holding a pad of sheets for reference and for writing upon with both the hands and arms of the user free for associated work, and since the device is supported from the shoulders of the wearer it will retain its horizontal operable position while the wearer is walking about and while standing either in erect position or while bending, stooping, sitting or squatting.

I claim:

A body supporting writing board comprising, a pair of flat shoulder straps of light weight resilient material each formed with an inverted fold for fitting over the shoulders of the user with free end portions terminating at the upper back shoulder area and with the forward portions extending downwardly from the top of said folds and converging over the chest area of the wearer, a breast plate secured to the lower ends of said forward portions of said straps, a third flat strap of light weight resilient Conveniently pivot 23 may here consist of,

material secured to and depending from said breast plate and having a generally right angularly related forwardly projecting arm, a flat tray mounted upon and being pivotally secured at a mid point to the forward end of said arm for rotation of said tray about a vertical axis to accommodate right and left hand Writers, said tray being formed with a plurality of arcuately set openings and said arm being formed with an opening selectively registrable therewith in pre-determined rotated positions of said tray, a fastener mounted through said registering openings for securing said tray in selected rotated position on said arm, a bar having a base side mounted upon 'said tray along an edge portion thereof and having a length approximately equal to said edge portion for clamping a pad of sheets therebetween, studs connecting 4 said bar and tray and adapted for threading through openings in said pad and being of adjustable length to accommodate pads of various thicknesses, and an end loop on said bar superimposed in spaced relation over said base side for holding against return sheets folded back from said pad and under said end loop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 372,496 Small Nov. 1, 1887 1,130,689 Atkinson Mar. 2, 1915 1,191,425 Huddle July 18, 1916 1,522,079 Read Jan. 6, 1925 

